Boston manager Terry Francona never throws his players under a bus. Until, of course, the throws his players under a bus.
Masslive says… decisions by Clay Buchholz and J.D. Drew in the seventh inning laid the groundwork for this setback.
Even though the Rays’ Carlos Pena has only 23 steals in 10 seasons, he has been hobbled by a sore foot, and showed no inclination to steal, Buchholz’ wild pickoff throw allowed Carlos Pena to go from first to third with one out.
J.D. Drew then made a splendid catch of Matt Joyce’s long foul, but doing so allowed Pena to score. Drew said he didn’t mean to catch the ball.
Yeah – he accidentally caught a fly ball that he had no intention of catching.
Here comes the bus:
“You don’t have a lot of time to think (on Drew’s play), but … I understand the point,’’ the manager said.
And the pickoff?
“He wasn’t going to run. It was a tough way to give up a run,’’ Francona said.
I’m with Francona on this one. Sure it’s easy to miss the ball when you are trying to catch it. But to catch one when you are trying to miss it? That’s got to be difficult, huh?
Oh, but here in Rays land, we’re happy tonight!